A STRANGE STORY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2322, 28 May 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

A STRANGE STORY.

The facts I am about to relate occurred in the early day, when the country was one great wilderness stretching almost across the State of Pennsylvania and across the great State of New York. The story begins in 1775. At that time two families, with others, left the State of Connecticut and journeyed to a valley on the Susquehanna River and pitched their tents in Wyoming Valley, almost opposite the now beautiful city of Wilkesbarre. At that time the Susquehanna above them ran through one unbroken wilderness, and for miles below no one had penetrated the wilderness. The two families I have mentioned were one named Slocum, the other Lewis. In these families were two young men of nearly the same age—James Slocum and William Lewis. After they had been in the valley about three years rumours were afloat that the Tories and Indians were going to make a raid into this valley. At this time young Slocum had joined the Continental army and had been stationed at Shamokin, now Sunbury. Young Lewis was at Wyoming, at Forty Fort, helping to prepare for the anticipated invasion. At last the fears of the inhabitants were fully realised ; the Indians under Butler had come with fire and tomahawk to kill and destroy. The fort was invested, and by treachery taken and all killed or taken except a few who got across the river; wandering in the wilderness for fourteen clays they at last reached Bethlehem, a few miles from Philadelphia. Young Lewis hid under the banks of the river for one night and one day ; the next night he found an old canoe adrift. In this he floated down the river to Shamokin, where he found young Slocum. While at Shamokin young Slocum had married a young woman by the name of Hoyt. Having been married about one year and six months, they had one child, a boy, perhaps three months old. After young Lewis had been there a few weeks he became morose, and from friendship he seemed to hate young Slocum. One night at a gathering he gave young Slocum the lie ; hot words ensued ; he struck young Slocum with a gun, killing him almost instaniously. Seeing what he had done, he fled into the wilderness, and all trace of him was lost at that time. When ho left he took the gun with which he killed Slor.um, which belonged to the murdered man, and had his name cut on the stock. About fifteen years afterward, Mrs Slocum was taken sick, and, as it was found she could not live, her physician told her she had but a short time to live. She called her son to her bedside, and made him promise to never give up the search for the murderer of his father, and to bring him to an account for the deed. He promised so to do. But to return to the murderer. He took to the Woods, following up the west branch of the Susquehanna, thence up the ,Sinnama,honin<? to its head. Striking across ho reached tho Allesrhany at or near where Olean now stands. Here ho fell in with a tribe of Indians, mid ho soon pained their good-will and was adopted by them. After awhile he found a young lady who had been taken captive by them somewhere on the Canada frontier, and who had been aclonted as a, daughter of their chief. Ho soon gained her affections and took her as a wife. He then built him a cabin across the river south of the present villace of Olean and where Bradford Railroad strikes the flats. Here he lived for years, and one child was born to them, a daughter. When the daughter was about sixteen years old her mother died, and ,it or abont this time our Government built a national road across tho country to the lakes, passing through Olean, from the Susquehnnna, for military purposes. At this time troops were needed to guard our frontiers. Young Slocum had at this time enlisted, and with others he was ordered to Fort Niagera, coming by way of the National Road, When they had got at or near what is now called Rock City, they saw a sight which was truly npalling. About twenty Indians were standing around a large fire, and a man was tied to a stake, aud they had already set fire to the wood by which he was surrounded. A beautiful woman was also tied to a tree. The troops fired upon them and made a dash to save the man's life. While so doing a shot from the gun of one of the retreating savages wounded young Slooum, breaking his ankle. The man and younsr lariv were then taken by the troops and carried to their home, where the man dierl that evening. The troops made a halt for a few days; tho old man was buried, and the young lady took care of her resnner for Rome days until his ankle got so that he could walk. One day young Slonum took down a gun belonging to the old man, and found his father's name on the sfoclr. He then made enquiries, and found out that this man was the father' of the young lady, and by other -means found fut where he cause from and Tiis right name. But if the daughter had Inst a father, she had found one who was more to her. When the troons moved on she went with them, and at Fort Niagara they were married. While there, by one of. those unaccountable circumstances, she found her grandmother on her mother's side, an old woman,and quite wealthy,who took her, and where she had her home for two years, when they returned to Wyoming, aud young Slocum came into possession of his father's lands, and where he lived until his death, which was at eighty-two years, his wife dying some years before. Some of the family arc still living at or near Kingston, beloved and respected by all. —American Paper.